Apparatus for degreasing leather.



Patented oef. 29, 190|.

Nn. 685,55l.

(Application filed Jan. 18, 1901.)

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No. 685,55I.

Patented Oct. 29, 190|. W. W. ADAMS, la. APPARATUS FDR DEGREASING LEATHER.

' (Application filed. Jan. 18, 1901.)

(No Model.) Y

l /NVENTOH i W/TNESSES Patented Oct. 29, |90I.

` No. 685,55l.

w. w. ADAMS, 1n. APPARATUS FR DEGREASING LEATHER.

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(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM W.- ADAMS, JR., OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE PENNSYLVANIA PROCESS COMPANY, OF OAMDEN, NET JERSEY, A

CORPORATION on NEw'JERsEY.

APPARATUS DEGREA'SING LETH'ER-l sPEcmmA'roN forming pea ef Letters Patent No. 685,551, detect oeteber 29, 1901.

` Appneeutn niet reentry 1s, 190i. serai No. 43,821.l (No model.)

To all 'whom t mctyc'oltern 1 Be it known that LWIL'LIAM W. ADAiits,Jr., 'a citizen of the United States,residingatPhila delphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, have 5 invented certain new and useful Improvements i'n Mechanical Apparatus for Degreasing Skins or Leather, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying draw- Io ings, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improved mechanical apparatus for degreasing tanned skins, leather, and other likev stock for the extraction therefrom of natural and applied grease. Itis particularly applicable to the degreasing and necessary subsequent drying of tanned skins and leather, which is the chief purpose and use for which I have designed it and to which I have applied it.

In all or -at least the principal processes and machines for degreasing leather and like stock heretofore employed the principle involved is the quiescent or still subjection of the stock to be treated usually by suspending it in a iixed position to the action of a volume of liquid grease solvent discharged against it or simply by immersing it in the solvent. In my view that principle is defecti've, the quickest and most eective re- 3o sults being attained by agitating the Stock itself and bringing it forcibly against a volume of the liquid. f

In my improved mechanism of extracting the grease and drying the skins the essential and distinguishing features are threefoldfirst, by means of suitable devices, hereinafter described, to support the skins in a taut con- .dition--that is to say, flat and not slack-and so present them in rapid motion against a 4o body of grease-extracting liquid in order that the grease will be removed completely, evenly, and rapidly from every part of the skin, a difficultly-attainable result, as a skin varies in thickness and density in its several parts and some parts contain and absorb more natural and applied grease than other parts; second, to quickly and thoroughly dry the degreased skin, but in a manner which will not injure or inv any way change the density, pliability, or leather character of the tanned skin, and, finally, after drawing off the degreasing liquid not absorbed by the skin from the extracting-chamber of the machine to remove the naphtha or other grease solvent which has been taken up by absorption and then remains in the skin by volatilizing it by means of a rapidly-moving current of air admitted to the chamber or by means of radiated heat therein.

My improved machine, hereinafter described, consists, primarily, in the combination, with a main supporting-frame and suitable driving-gearing and a fixed liquid-containing receptacle mounted in said frame, said chamber having suitable inlet and outlet discharges and end stuffing-boxes or trunnions for the admission of rotatable.driving-shafts, of a removable receptacle in skeleton form containing oppositelye disposed racks for stretching and supporting the skins, said receptacle being rotated within the liquid-con-` taining chamber by said last-mentioned driving-shafts; also, in the same elements in combination when provided with steam or hotairdrying-coils suitably disposed within the lower portion of the liquid-containing receptacle, and discharge-openings with valve governed leading-off tubes near the top of said chamber for drawing off the vapor of the naphtha volatilized in the skin in the final drying operation.

The essential and distinguishing features of construction in vthe several elements and in their combination, serving to identify and distinguish the device as embodying my invention, will be hereinafter particularly referred to in the description of the machine, and pointed out inthe claiming clauses.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating my invention, Figure l is a side elevation of the machine, showing part of the interior of the extracting-chamber in dotted lines. Fig. 2 is an end view of the same looking from the left-hand end of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-section on the line a b of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a section on the line c d of Fig. 2. v Fig. 5 is an elevation in perspective of the*` removable skin-containing device shown in section in the center of Fig. 3, and Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section of one of the four supporting-racks shown in cross-section in center of Fig. 3.

A suitable supporting-frame is provided, consisting, as shown in Figs. l, 2, and 4, of opposite end standards A A, with a drivingshaft A suitably journaled in the apex thereof and carrying a cog driving-wheel A2, which gears with a cog-wheel A3, (see Fig. 2,) the latter driven by a sprocket-chain A4, connecting with and driven by suitable overhanging shafting, (indicated at A5, Fig. 1,) the latter carrying a usual clutch and lever, (indicated at A6 in said Fig. l.) Within these supporting-frame standards A A, aided by intermediate supporting devices B, (see Figs. l, 2, and 3,) is maintained in fixed position a chamber or receptacle C, provided at each end with a stufng-box C', through which pass the driving-shafts A. These shafts extend into the said receptacle and carry on their inner ends a fixed wooden or metallic bar C2, the inner vertical face ot' which is provided with a tenon c, adapted to be adjustably connected by sliding to a mortise d on the external face of each end of the skin-containing rack D, hereinafter described. (See Fig. 5.) The receptacle C is closed throughout except at its top, for which a removable lid C3 is provided, the rim edge c of which fits into a double-rim flange c2, (see Figs. 3 and 4,) containing water, oil, or other suitable sealing liquid. As the receptacle C is intended to contain the liquid naphtha, which is constantly being injected and discharged in the operation of the machine, suitable inlet c3 and discharge cl are provided, and the better to draw olf the same I prefer to make the receptacle with a longitudinally-inclined bottom c7 (see Figs. l and 4) and for strength and economy of material and space to construct its upright sides c5 c5 converging together at the base, (see Fig. 3,) forming substantially a heart-shaped body in cross-section.

Entering and passing through and from the receptacle C, near the base thereof, is provided a steam or hot-air pipe E, coiled or otherwise disposed to give sufficient radiated heat within the receptacle.

The skin-containing rack D is in skeleton form and composed of two oppositely-disposed end plates CZ', the external face of each of which is mortised vertically at d to adapt it to fit the tenon c on the end bar C2 of the driving-shaft. (See Fig. 5.) These end plates d are connected together at their four corners by intermediate angle-iron bars d2, the Whole being preferably braced by braces d3. (See Fig. l.) In each corner formed by the angle-bars d2 a hook-rack F is secured in place. These hook-racks (shown in crosssection in Fig. 3 and longitudinal section detached in Fig. 6) consist of bars f, containing open sharp hooks f. Askin, such as a calf- Skin or goatskin, is usually of the shape shown in outline in Fig. B-that is to say, has four very nearly equidistant points. Hence it is fastened thereby to each of the four hooks f' and stretched thereon or rather fastened taut. be made ot' different sizes and shapes in crosssection to adapt it to different shapes of skins or other stock to be degreased, and as it is to be removable from and to the receptacle C it can be lifted out therefrom bodily by overhead trolley-line hangers depending and removably attachable to the bars d2.

In the removable lid C3 is provided a discharge-opening G, containing a spring controlled or weighted check-valve g, (see section in Fig. 3,) and said discharge-opening G is to be connected to any suitable vaporpumping device for drawing oif and delivering the volatilized vapor of naphtha arising during the drying process.

The operation of the machine is as follows: The skin-containing receptacle D is removed from the naphtha-receptacle C and a series of skins are stretched on and fastened to the corner-hooks F, preferably arranged in inclined position, as indicated in Fig. 4, so that in the rotation of the rack D the liquid naphtha shall be dashed directly against the surface of the skins, on both sides thereof, which would not be the case if they were arranged vertically in the rack D. Moreover, when so arranged it will not be necessary to fill they receptacle C more than half full ot' naphtha, as indicated in Fig. 4. The latter is then lowered into the receptacle C, the tenon on the shaft-bar fitting the mortise on the rack end and the parts fastened together by lock m. The lid is then put in place on receptacle C and sealed. Motion being given to the driving-shaft, the rack D is rotated for, say, a halfhour in the naphtha, the time depending on the greasy character of the skins to be extracted. When completed, the liquid naphtha is drawn off through the discharge-pipe,

which is controlled by a valve n. The skins are then to be dried. Steam or hot air is ad; mitted to the heating-coils and the naphtha absorbed by the skin will volatilize, the vapor being drawn off through the check-valved exit by the pumping apparatus indicated.

In my mechanical apparatus described the Whole operation is not only cleanly and confined within the smallest possible area, but the stock to be extracted is carried through every step of my new process Without any direct handling between the first and last steps thereof and without necessarily removing the skins from the machine until completely extracted and dried. p

If desired, the su pporting-rack D may after the skins have been acted on by the degreasing liquid be removed bodily from the receptacle C and the absorbed liquid naphtha in the skins be vaporized and the skins dried in a separate chamber or vessel, closed or otherA Wise, by radiated heat, or, if preferred, by subjecting them in such vessel to the drying It is obvious that the receptacle D can IOO IIO

action of a direct current of air under rapid movement, either at common atmosphere temperature or (for more speedy results) at an increased temperature not over 150 Fahrenheit for naphtha, or at any higher temperature not in excess of 2120 Fahrenheit for any other liquid grease solvent that may be substituted for liquid naphtha.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 'is--n l. In a machine for extracting grease from tanned skins and other like stock, the combination with a suitable supporting-frame and actuating-gearing, of a iixed liquid-containing receptacle adapted to be closed by a removable sealing cap or lid, and provided at each end with stui'ling-boxes or trunnions and a rotatable shaft passing through the same; inlet and discharge openings in said receptacle, and a frame-like rotatable body, with means adapted to support therein a series of skins in separated and distended condition, and adapted also to be rotated within the liquid-containing receptacle, and with means at each end of said rotatable body adapted to removably attach it to and detach it from the rotatable shaft within said liquid-containing receptacle; substantially as described.

2. The combination in a machine of the character described, of a fixed liquid-containing receptacle having end hollow trunnions for the admission of rotatable driving-shafts, a removable lid and inlet and discharge openings, drivin g-shafts within said trunnions, actuating-gearing for the same, a suitable supporting-frame for said elements, and a framelike rotatable body, with means at each end 4 adapted to removably attach it to and detach it from the driving-shafts extending into the fixed liquid-containingreceptacle, and with devices in said rotatable bod)7 adapted to separably support and tixedly vmaintain each of a series of skins therein during the rotation of the frame-like body 5 substantially as d escribed.

3. The combination in a machine of the character described, of a fixed liquid-containing receptacle having end hollow trunnions for the admission of rotatable driving-shafts',

a removable lid and inlet and discharge openings, driving-shafts within said trunnions, actuating-gearing for the same, a suitable supporting-frame for said elements, and a framelike rotatable body, with means at each end adapted to removably attach it to and detach it from the driving-shafts extending into the tixed liquid-containing receptacle, and with devices in said rotatable body adapted to separably support and ixedly maintain each of a series of skins therein during the rotation of the frame-like body, means to radiate heat within the liquid -containing receptacle, a check-valved discharge-opening in the latter and means to draw 0E the vapor from th same; substantially as described.

4. In a degreasing-machine of the character specified, the combination with a liquidcontaining receptacle, of a rotatable framelike body D contained therein, means for rotating the said frame-like body D within the said receptacle, the said frame-like body D being provided with interior hook-racks separately disposed to maintain the skins in distended condition within the frame-like body D between said interior hook-racks during rotation thereof. v v

5. In a degreasing-machine of the character specified, the combination with a liquidcontaining receptacle, of a rotatable framelike body D contained therein, means for rotating the said frame-like body D within the said receptacle, the said frame-like body D t comprising oppositelydisposed end plates each having provisions for detachable connection with the driving means, interior hookracks disposed between and supported by the said end plates to maintain the skins in distended condition Within the frame-like `body D between said interior hook-racks during rotation thereof.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature this 15th day of January, A. D. 1901.

v WILLIAM W. ADAMS, JR.

Witnesses:

ANDREW V. GROUPE, HECTOR T. FENTON. 

